Carpet sweeper

ABSTRACT

An arcuate frame top plate is formed with a longitudinally elongated groove for receiving the lower end of a handle. Box frames for supporting friction wheels at the opposite ends of a rotary brush and rolling wheels for driving the rotary brush are fixed to the opposite sides of the top plate. Dust receptacles pivoted to the opposing inner sides of the box frames are provided on their opposite sides with auxiliary brush supports which are exposed from the opposite sides of the box frames and are manipulated for opening the receptacles when the dust therein is discharged.

United States Patent Fukuba Aug. 28, 1973 [5 CARPET SWEEPER 3,268,9368/1966 Fukuba 15 42 x [76] Inventor: mm Fukuba, 232082, 3,628,21112/1972 Fukuba 15/42 Matsugaoka Nagareyama' Primary Examiner-Edward L.Roberts Japan AttorneyThomas B. Van Poole et al. 22 F! d: .3 1972 l 1 57ABSTRACT [21] Appl. No.: 214,825

An arcuate frame top plate is formed with a longitudinally elongatedgroove for receiving the lower end of [5 2] US. Cl. 15/42 a handle. Boxframes for supporting friction wheels at [51] Int. Cl A47l 11/33 theopposite ends of a rotary brush and rolling wheels [58] Field of Search..lS/4148 for driving the rotary brush are fixed to the opposite sidesof the top plate. Dust receptacles pivoted to the opposing inner sidesof the box frames are provided on [56] References Cited their oppositesides with auxiliary brush supports which UNITED STATES PATENTS areexposed from the opposite sides of the box frames 2 663 888 12/1953Thiele 15/41 R and manipuiated mining the eceptacles when 2,975,4493/1961 Liddell et al 15 41 R the dust harem dlscharged- 3 Claims, 5Drawing Figures Patented Aug. 28, 1973 3 SheetsSheet 1 Patented Aug. 28,1973 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 28, 1973 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fig.5

CARPET SWEEPER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A carpet sweeper is knownwhich comprises a rotary brush disposed at the center of flat under faceof the frame cover and dust receptacles provided in front and rear ofthe brush so that the dust can be swept off the floor into the dustreceptacles by the brush. The carpet sweeper of this type has thedrawback that the dust once swept into the dust receptacle tends to becaught on the rotary brush due to the vibration of the frame duringsweeping operation and is drawn out onto the floor again. To preventsuch trouble, an improved sweeper is proposed which is equipped with acomblike cleaner to be wedged into the brush or raised therefrom inaccordance with the direction of rotation of the brush. However, theprovision of such cleaner involves additional problems in that unlessconsideration is given to the method of assemblage, the sweeper requiresa greater trouble and more time for assemblage. To eliminate thisdrawback, it has been suggested to form the main body of the sweeper andframe portions to be attached to the opposite sides of the main body asseparate units and to incorporate the comblike cleaner into the sweeperwhen these units are assembled.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to improvementsin a carpet sweeper of the type described which comprises an assembly ofa sweeper main body and frame portions to be attached to the oppositesides of the main body which are formed separately.

An object of this invention is to provide a carpet sweeper comprising aframe top cover made of a metal plate and side box frames molded ofplastics and fixed to the opposite ends of the frame top cover, the sidebox frames supporting constituent elements of the sweeper such asrolling wheels, rotary brush, combs for the brush and dust receptacles.

Another object of this invention is to provide a carpet sweeper whereinauxiliary brush supports projecting from the opposite sides of the dustreceptacles are exposed sidewise from the opening parts formed in thebox frames so that the dust receptacles can be opened with ease bymoving the auxiliary brush supports by the hand when dust is to bediscarded.

Still another object of this invention is to provide simple means at thefront and rear ends of the frame top plate to obtain a boxlike structureand to attach shock absorbing members at these ends so as to protectfumiture when the sweeper is used.

Other features of the present invention will become more apparent fromthe following detailed description of an embodiment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a perspective view showingthe overall appearance of a carpet sweeper of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the same with part broken away;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the same;

FIG. 4 is a front view of the same; and

FIG. 5 is a side elevation showing other portions in section.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT With reference to the embodimentshown in the accompanying drawings, a frame top plate 1 is provided, atthe center of its top face, with an elongated groove member for mountinga handle 2 therein' The top plate 1 made of a thin metal plate issmoothly curved in an arcuate form as seen in side elevation. Box frames3 made of a synthetic resin material is fixed to the opposite sides ofthe top plate I.

The box frames 3 on the left and right are symmetric. Each of the boxframes 3 is in the form of a box and has an interior space defined by anouter side wall 6 and inner side wall 7 for accommodating rolling wheels5. The rolling wheels 5 impart rotation to a transverse rotary brush 4supported below the center of the top plate 1 and support the carpetsweeper above the floor.

The opposite side ends of the top plate 1 are fitted into grooves 11formed in the outer faces of opposing inner side walls 7 of the boxframes 3 with application of an adhesive, whereby the parts are fixedtogether. Alternatively, the top plate 1 may be simply fitted with thebox frames and secured thereto by driving screws into threaded portionsformed.

The rotary brush 4 has such length that it extends between the innerside walls 7 and 7 of the box frames 3 put together as described above.As already known, driven wheels 9 and 9 are mounted on the opposite endsof a shaft extending from the opposite ends of the brush. Each of thedriven wheels 9 and 9 is positioned within the space of each box frame 3and a pin bore formed in the outer end face of the driven wheel 9receives therein short pins 10 projecting from the outer wall 6 of thebox frame 3, the driven wheel 9 thus being rotatably supported on thepin 10.

Like the driven whee] 9, the rolling wheels 5 for imparting rotation tothe driven wheel 9 are disposed in the box frame. A bearing shaft forcarrying the roll ing wheel 5 extends horizontally from the lower end ofa vertical rod 12 whose upper horizontal end 12b is received in aretainer groove 13 formed in the ceiling of the box frame 3. The bearingshaft 12a extends through a bore of the rolling wheel 5 and terminatesat its end 12a, which is guided by a vertical rib 14 on the inner faceof the box frame 3 so as to keep the rolling wheel 5 in proximity to thedriven wheel 9. 7

Dust receptacles l5 and 15 are provided in front and rear of the rotarybrush 4 between the opposite side frames 3 and 3 as if to close theunder portion of the arcuate top plate 1. The dust receptacle 15comprises a wavelike bottom plate and opposite side plates 16 and 16which are made integrally of a synthetic resin. Short pins 17 projectingfrom the inner faces of the box frames 3 fit in holes 16' formed in theopposite side plates 16 of the dust receptacle 15, whereby thereceptacle is supported'on the box frames in downwardly pivotallymovable manner.

To assure the engagement of the rear end of each dust receptacle'lS witha cushion member 18 at each of the front and rear edges of the top plate1, small grooves 19 are formed at the opposite lower sides of front edgeof the dust receptacle 15 which front edge faces the rotary brush andsimilar small grooves 19 are also formed in the other dust receptacle 15in opposite relationship. Inverted U-shaped wire springs 20 are providedbetween the opposing grooves 19 so as to always urge the rear edges ofthe dust receptacles into pressing contact with the cushion members 18about the short pins 17. The dust receptacle 15 can be easily movedpivotally to be opened downward from the top plate for the discharge ofdust accumulated therein by placing the finger on a support 21 andpushing the same downward. The support 21 for supporting an auxiliarybrush 8 will be described below.

Downwardly extending brushes 8 are disposed on the opposite sides ofeach dust receptacle 15 to sweep the floor below the box frames 3 and 3which the rotary brush 4 can not sweep. The brushes 8 further serve toprevent pitching and rolling to be produced when the sweeper is movedback and forth by the elongated handle 2 for sweeping.

Each brush 8 is firmly fitted into the brush support 21 formedintegrally with the dust receptacle 15 and extending from each sideplate 16 of the dust receptacle toward under the box frame 3. Thesupport 21 in the illustrated embodiment is in the form of a bifurcatedpart and a base 28 of the brush 8 is inserted into the support 21 fromoutside. Since the support 21 extends from the side plate 16 of the dustreceptacle toward under the box frame 3, the inner side wall 7 and outerside wall 6 of the box frame 3 are formed with tunnellike recesses 22and 23 for permitting the support 21 to project.

In order to enable the user to push open the dust re- 7 ceptacle l5easily against the action of the springs 20, the end of the support 21is positioned at the outer side wall 6 of the box frame 3, theaforementioned recess 23 in the outer side wall 6 being such that asufficient space is left above the support 21 so that the user can placehis finger on the end of the support 21 from above.

The cushion member 18 to be engaged by the rear end of the dustreceptacle 15 is provided on each of the front and rear ends of the topplate 1. Each end of the top plate 1 includes a vertical portion 24, ahorizontal portion 25 and another vertical portion 26 further extendingupward from the end of the horizontal portion 25. The cushion member 18made of a rubberlike material is provided over the bent portion thusformed and covers the same both from inside and outside. The cushionmaterial 18 includes a flat portion 27 in its under face with which therear edge of the dust receptacle 15 is brought into pressing contact.The external portion of the cushion member 18 serves to mitigate theshock to be produced when the sweeper strikes against furniture or thelike during sweeping.

To mount the handle 2 at the center of the top plate 1, there isprovided a rod 30 under the top plate 1. The rod 30 is supported at itsopposite ends on bearing portions 31 formed in the box frames 3. The rod30 extends through a hole in the lower end of the handle 2 at the centerof the top plate 1. To receive the lower end of the handle, the topplate 1 is formed with an elongated groove in which there is formed arecessed member 32. The lower end of the handle 2 is attached to the rod30 within the recess of the recessed member 32, the recess being soelongated that the handle 2,

when inclined downward along the recess, will be parallel with thefloor. A securing member 33 for the recessed member 32 is adheredthereto with the top plate 1 disposed therebetween.

The lower end of the handle 2 is first inserted into the recessed member32 and, in this state, the rod 30 is loosely passed through the holestherein. The recessed member 32 is then fitted to the under side of theelongated groove of the top plate. The securing member 33 is thenadhered to the recessed member 32 for connection to the plate 1. Theopposite ends of the rod 30 are then inserted in the bearing portions 31of the box frames 3. Although the handle 2 comprises a piece of rod, asseen in the drawing, it may be composed of several shorter segments ofpipe such as a fishing rod.

As already known, a plate spring is disposed at the bottom of thegrooved member 32 to push up the flat end of the handle 2 upward withits high resilient force and thereby keep the handle 2 in an uprightposition. The drawings further show cleaner combs 35 for the rotarybrush and a lever 36 for pivotally supporting the combs on the innerside wall 7.

In accordance with this invention, the dust receptacles for this type ofcarpet sweeper are made easier to handle by eliminating inconveniencesheretofore experienced. In the case where a manipulating portion of thedust receptacle is projected outward from the cover, dust tends to comeout through the grooves therefor provided, but such drawback is avoidedin the present invention.

The present invention is not limited to the foregoing embodiment but canbe practiced with other modifications. For example, the support for theauxiliary brush may be in the form of a box which is open at its underface so as to fit the brush therein from below. Further the oppositeends of the cushion member may extend to the ends of the box frames tomitigate the shock to be produced upon the box frames hitting furniture.

What is claimed is:

l. A carpet sweeper including a frame cover comprising an arcuate topplate having side edges but not having side walls, first and second sidebox frames made of synthetic resin fixed to the side edges of the framecover, rolling wheels in each box frame mounted on bearing shaft meanscarried solely by said box frame, inwardly facing grooves on each ofsaid box frames, said side edges of said top plate being received insaid inwardly facing grooves and secured therein, a rotary brush means,friction wheels mounted on opposite ends of said rotary brush means infrictional contact with said rolling wheels, dust receptacles disposedon opposite sides of said rotary brush in facing relationship thereto,said dust receptacles having side walls, pivot means connecting saiddust receptacles to the side box frames so as to be opened downwardly, ahandle supporting rod extending across the width of said arcuate topplate to be spaced beneath said arcuate top plate and supported on eachend by said side box frames, a push handle connected to and supported bysaid handle supporting rod and extending outwardly therefrom andauxiliary brush supporting means extending outwardly from the oppositesides of said dust receptacles through recesses provided in said sidebox frames and auxiliary brush means extending downwardly from saidauxiliary brush supporting means.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said auxiliary brush supportingmeans are formed on opposite side walls of said dust receptacles.

3. The invention of claim 1 wherein said auxiliary brush supportingmeans are respectively formed on the side walls of said dust receptaclesand said recesses through which said brush supporting means extendcomprise inverted U-shaped openings extending upwardly from the loweredge portions of said box frames.

1. A carpet sweeper including a frame cover comprising an arcuate topplate having side edges but not having side walls, first and second sidebox frames made of synthetic resin fixed to the side edges of the framecover, rolling wheels in each box frame mounted on bearing shaft meanscarried solely by said box frame, inwardly facing grooves on each ofsaid box frames, said side edges of said top plate being received insaid inwardly facing grooves and secured therein, a rotary brush means,friction wheels mounted on opposite ends of said rotary brush means infrictional contact with said rolling wheels, dust receptacles disposedon opposite sides of said rotary brush in facing relationship thereto,said dust receptacles having side walls, pivot means connecting saiddust receptacles to the side box frames so as to be opened downwardly, ahandle supporting rod extending across the width of said arcuate topplate to be spaced beneath said arcuate top plate and supported on eachend by said side box frames, a push handle connected to and supported bysaid handle supporting rod and extending outwardly therefrom andauxiliary brush supporting means extending outwardly from the oppositesides of said dust receptacles through recesses provided in said sidebox frames and auxiliary brush means extending downwardly from saidauxiliary brush supporting means.
 2. The invention of claim 1 whereinsaid auxiliary brush supporting means are formed on opposite side wallsof said dust receptacles.
 3. The invention of claim 1 wherein saidauxiliary brush supporting means are respectively formed on the sidewalls of said dust receptacles and said recesses through which saidbrush supporting means extend comprise inverted U-shaped openingsextending upwardly from the lower edge portions of said box frames.